Effects of reflexology on pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review was conducted to investigate the impact of reflexology on pain management in individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. A comprehensive search was executed on international electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Iranian electronic library including Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database, covering the earliest available data up to January 25, 2024. The search employed keywords derived from Medical Subject Headings such as "reflexology", "pain", and "rheumatoid arthritis". The quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical assessment checklist. A total of four studies, encompassing 206 participants, were included in the review. Notably, 70.97% of the enrolled patients were female, with 61.17% assigned to the intervention group. The mean age of participants was 50.06 (standard deviation [SD]=8.48) years. The average study duration and follow-up period were approximately 25 and 5 weeks, respectively, with an intervention duration averaging 40 minutes. In three studies interventions were effective in decreasing pain of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, in one study, the intervention was not effective in decreasing pain of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The findings indicated that health professionals, including nurses, can effectively employ reflexology as a means to alleviate pain in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Consequently, it is recommended that healthcare managers and policymakers create an enabling environment within hospitals, facilitating the integration of reflexology into patient care protocols. This strategic approach holds the potential for reducing the pain experienced by patients afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.